Albuquerque mayoral candidates optimistic on Election Day

Voters have been casting their ballots since the polls opened at 7 a.m. to decide the city's next mayor.

KOB Eyewitness News 4 caught up with all three mayoral candidates on Election Day.

Mayor Richard Berry and his wife voted this morning at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. Berry said he was pleased with how things have been going in the city since he first took office. If elected to a second term, Berry said he wants to keep moving forward.

"Businesses are adding jobs. Neighborhoods are safer and we'll just continue to do those things. But also, there's a number of new initiatives we'd like to put forward in the second term and just really get to work," Berry said.

Pete Dinelli brought his family to vote at Mark Twain Elementary in northeast Albuquerque. He said he was confident that there would be a runoff election.

If Dinelli is elected mayor, he says he'll start working right away.

"I intend to hit the ground running. We're going to make some major changes with the Albuquerque Police Department. We're also going to be addressing economic development to bring jobs to the Albuquerque area," Dinelli said.

Paul Heh voted with his wife last week. If elected, he says he'll put together a transitional team to fix some things he says are the biggest problems in the city, including the economy.

"Not only in the mayor's office and the staff down there, but within the police department and I'm sure within and other areas of the city," Heh said.

The polls will stay open until 7 p.m. Albuquerque resident can go to any of the 50 polling locations in the city.